Immature Shags at Eastney Harbour entrance.

Tuesday 7th November 2023.

This was one of two immature Shags seen on a quiet morning at Eastney Harbour entrance.

Though it was rather fresh and breezy this morning, after my first shift at Pembroke Road, I took the dogs for a walk around the Harbour entrance at Eastney. It was wall to wall blue sky and lovely sunshine, with the occasional bit of hazy cloud; but good enough to find something unusual around this area. My target species was a Guillemot having not seen one in Hampshire this year, but there were no Auks to be found at all during my walk.

Above and below, there are always plenty of Starlings about by the harbour entrance and always will take the opportunity for a bath in the many puddles there.

Above, this fishing Little Egret was near the Ferry Terminal on the edge of Lock Lake. Below, the Hayling Ferry setting off for another crossing.

In fact, if it wasn't for a pair of immature Shags swimming in the harbour entrance, it would have been very quiet indeed. Though the tide was ebbing it was still fairly high, but a good look within the harbour failed to find anything really of note on the water. A few flocks of Brent Geese flew over and a few were bobbing about on the water in Lock Lake, but no Grebes, Divers or sea-duck to be found. Boo! In fact, hardly any waders either with only a few Oystercatchers seen distantly flying over the harbour. At least there was one immature Shag seen swimming close to the Hayling Ferry Jetty to keep me entertained (though the nearby Starlings bathing in the puddles is always fun to watch!). I did hear a Rock Pipit calling, but failed to see the bird but I was more fortunate with a pair of Meadow Pipits flying over.

Above, the view from the Outfall looking west and below, one of the immature Shags by the Hayling Ferry Jetty.

This immature Shag was nearer the Outfall, watching this sea-angler and his rod very carefully.

From the Ferry Road Car Park, I walked the dogs to the Outfall where again, it was very quiet. However, this time, a pair of immature Shags were fishing close inshore, in fact, quite near a sea-angler. Maybe they have a new idea on how to easily nick a fish or two? A Greenfinch and a Skylark were flyovers, but very little else on note around here today, sadly. Earlier today, on my first shift, I enjoyed watching the staggering large numbers of Wood Pigeon flocks going over. I estimated that at least a thousand birds must have gone over and all were heading south-east. 

This adult Arctic Tern flew past Hill Head this morning and most likely the same bird we saw last Sunday morning. Photo by Mark Francis.